The crowd wasn’t so supportive of Katsumi’s win. They booed and screamed, some of them shed a tear for their fallen hero. But not Katsumi though. She ignored the noise of the outside and playfully smiled as her breathing calmed down.

– Oh, I shouldn’t forget! – she quickly got up and approached the giant’s remains.

It was anything but a comfortable sight. His face was unrecognizable, bones pierced his skin and his limbs were undistinguishable from his torso. On top of this pile of meat sat a small bright wisp glowing with a light red color.

– That must be his soul! – Katsumi thought to herself and climbed up onto Nasturtium’s body.

The wisp first tried to resist her overwhelming presence, but as Katsumi got closer it became impossible. Piece by piece, it’s incorporeal light got sucked into the girl.

The world around Katsumi became a red and blurry storm. This was the first time she consciously devoured somebody’s soul, a rather scary experience that she had no real control over.

Just out of curiosity, she reached out to the wisp, trying to grab its non-existent form. As her hand was just about to feel its warmth, the red cyclone engulfed her vision and a little boy’s voice rang in her head.

– What’s that, Mommy?

It wasn’t her voice. She was not the one to say it. Yet it felt otherwise.

– A train, little Nasturtium.

The blurry wind calmed down and showed a memory. Katsumi looked down to her hands. They were large and green. She tried to move, but couldn’t. It was a movie playing in her mind.

She was underground in what appeared to be a dimly lit tunnel. In front of her was a woman and a large black train. She couldn’t see its length in the dark.

– Whoa! – the boy’s voice sparkled with excitement. – They’re like horses!

– Yes indeed.

The woman’s face was an unrecognizable void. Her clothes were beige and modest. And as Katsumi saw her blooming purple hair, she immediately knew it was Madonna.

As if her thoughts were heard, Madonna’s face appeared on the woman. The memory became even clearer and the voices weren’t muffled anymore.

– Mommy, can I ride them?

– Hmmm… yes, but only if you make a promise.

– Okay-okay-okay! – he jumped left and right, laughing from joy. – I’ll do anything, just let me ride the train!

– Alright! Then promise that you’ll always stay by my side.

– Yes, Mommy! I’ll do whatever you say!

– Good. Now come, let’s see what’s inside this cute little ‘horse’…

And with a bright flash, the memory reached its end.

/// Congratulations! ///

You have devoured the soul of ‘Nasturtium’!

User gained the ability to ####

The bubble violently shook around, something it has never done before.

/// Congratulations! ///

You’ve got one new curse!

– Wait… don’t tell me…

/// Curse of Silver-blade ///

User cannot damage foe whose blood she bears.

It finally dawned upon her.

– The power I got from Esidezhu… they said it was a curse. At first I thought that just means a blessing from a demon, but…

A wet feeling went through her chest. It flowed upwards, splitting into two below her collarbone. Following the same speed, this wet feeling continued down her arms, coming into her palm where it broke into five, went around her fingers and continued the same pattern on her back.

Dark lines appeared, tainting her skin black. They were curse marks, the same Nasturtium bore. Devouring his soul meant getting infected by his curse. But how come only this curse affected her? The giant had way more than just one curse mark!

Gladiolus banged his head against the wooden fence separating the audience from the arena. Saliva dripped down his overexcited face.

– Gwahahah, amazing! Simply spectacular. Your value only grows as speak! Every second you spend breathing this dirty air, your curses gain even more power! You’re perfect, you’re the most beautiful collectable I’ve ever seen! Madonna, bring her a healing potion! Quick-quick-quick! We cannot allow such a fine curio to suffer!

As the old man said her name, Madonna appeared next to Katsumi seemingly out of nowhere. She passed a red potion to Kats and went straight to Nasturtium.

Madonna didn’t look at her, nor say a word. Her otherwise annoyingly cheerful aura disappeared and a cold emptiness took its place. Getting to Nasturtium’s head, looking at what remained of his face, her aura became even more hollow.

– Damn – Kats thought to herself –, I never saw Nasturtium as an individual. To me, he was nothing just a monster, an obstacle in my path. But to her… shit, now I feel bad.

Not sure how to react, she approached Madonna with the intent to comfort her.

– Bring forth my remaining Fingers!

Katsumi stopped. The arena gates opened. Two unfamiliar figures appeared from Madonna’s side.

One of them was a children-sized teddy bear. Its fur was fluffy and pink. A large heart sat on its beige belly. Small black buttons were its eyes, lifelessly hanging from its puffy face. It’s marching was awkwardly cute.

– Fuck yeah! – it shouted with a squeaky voice. – Let me at her! Let me gouge out her eyes!

A golden throne followed the small teddy bear, flying on a magical cloud. A blonde haired woman lay in the chair, lazily hanging her legs down on the side. Her buttoned shirt was tight and white in its color. A loose black tie hanged downed her neck. She had a small crown on her head, the same Liatris wore. A golden scepter sat in her hand. It had a golden globe as a head.

– Yikes, is it time already? But I’m so tired… I want to take a nap…

– So many clowns appeared, it feels like I’m in a circus. – Katsumi quietly noted.

But behind the golden throne came another person. It was Glechoma.

– Oh, hey! – she waved. – Look, I saved you! I killed Nasturtium. Now he cannot eat you!

Her proud smile was met with a cold stare. Glechoma walked by her with the utmost silence. His eyes spoke not of gratitude, but rather… frustration.

– My Fingers! I order you to bring me the sharpest greataxe you may find.

– Oh shit! – Katsumi readied herself. – It’s time to throw hands, huh? Never thought you’d use a melee weapon, but whatever. Bring it on!

– Shut up! – Madonna shouted, turning to Kats.

Her face was strange. She blushed and her pupils were dilated. She breathed heavily, obstructed by sneaky bites on her lips.

– Come on! You too! Go and bring an axe!

– W-What? Why?

– Just bring one, quick! As long as his body’s warm, I can save his phallus! My god, I don’t want to lose it… no…

Katsumi awkwardly raised her arm for a question, but her confusion disappeared as she realized: Madonna didn’t care about Nasturtium’s death. She just wanted to save what might satisfy her desires.

– You… I went easy on you because of how bizarre your personality was. I thought there’s no way someone could be so primitive and clishé like a common hentai protagonist...

Katsumi clenched her fists.

– But now that I know there’s nothing behind that annoyingly horny mask… I can safely say that you’re a fucking psycho!

Madonna’s breathing became even more disoriented. Her eyes were almost just a big black mass and she could hardly balance herself.

– Nyohh… don’t h-humiliate me in front o-of everyone…

– You’re enjoying this?

– N-No, just a b-bit…

– Behave yourself!

Katsumi slapped her. The snappy sound of her palm echoed throughout the coliseum.

The otherwise restlessly loud crowd became silent. The three Fingers of Madonna stopped their march and observed the catastrophe about to ensue. Even Gladiolus’ screaming quieted down.

Madonna gazed at the dusty ground.

– Did you just… hit me?

– And I’ll do it again if you don’t behave!

– You little…

Snap-snap-snap!

Katsumi looked down to see a blade in Madonna’s hand, trying to stab her in the stomach. It was held back by a group of green vines, coming straight from the Gladiolus’ hand.

– Thought so. – Katsumi smugly smiled. – As long as Gladiolus believes I’m important, you can’t hurt me. He’ll defend me. So come on! Give it all you’ve got! You can’t wipe this smirk off my face!

Madonna tried forcing her hand through the vine.

– Gladiolus, I challenge Momo Katsumi to a…

– I won’t allow! – the old man said. – Not today, that is. We’ve seen three battles already. I’m exhausted.

– Then let me fight her tomorrow!

– Fine! – the old man slapped his hands together. – Momo Katsumi, you’ve heard her request. Given her rank is greater than yours, you have no right to refuse!

Katsumi loudly gulped. She forced a laugh and tried to shrug it off.

– Yeah sure, can’t wait to fuck her up!

– Good. Now, Nasturtium was defeated in a fair battle. Your request was to pardon Glechoma and free one of Nasturtium’s slaves, right?

Katsumi nodded.

– Glechoma is free to live. I’ve got nothing against that.

– What about the slave?

– As it turns out, there wasn’t any.

– Huh? H-Hold on, that can’t be true! Then what did Glechoma fight for? His request was to free Nasturtium’s slave!

– That is indeed true. But as I’ve learnt it a few minutes ago, he never owned any slaves. Now, this feast is over! I hope each and every one of you had fun. Remember, titankind will rise again!

Katsumi couldn’t believe her ears. She looked around for Glechoma, but he was already out of the arena. Madonna too. She was left alone in the middle of the cold coliseum.

The night ended without a true winner.